Comic-Con: Hardest Part of PlayStation All-Stars

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The waiting.

By Greg Miller

I'm beginning to think there's a method to developer SuperBot Entertainment's madness. A few months ago, I lamented the way PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale handles its knockouts. See, the game is unabashedly influenced by Nintendo's Super Smash Bros., but unlike the Mario game where the higher your percentage the easier you are to KO, All-Stars only allows player to be knocked out via super moves.

Exit Theatre Mode

I thought that was weird and a bit anticlimactic, but after playing a few rounds at Comic-Con, I can see the error of my ways (at least a little bit). Beating on opponents fills your super-meter, and that's what you can use to eliminate foes. There are three levels of super-moves, but getting to each level means sitting on your easy KO -- you have to fill your meter three times to pull off the best moves.

Whereas the excitement in Smash revolves around trying to edge out a weakened opponent, the excitement in All-Stars revolves around saving up for a big move to use at just the right time.

Frankly, I couldn't do it today. Playing as the newly added Toro, I'd throw ninja stars, sweep with a broom, and go through all manner of costume changes, but every time there was a "1" next to my super-meter, I unleashed the move and knocked out at least one opponent with a little kitty rush. Sure, I could've waited and seen what his next two supers did, but I was cleaning these Comic-Con kids' clocks, and the player with the most KOs wins here.

Don&#Array;t mess with Kratos.

Until, I saw Kratos' -- what I believe to be -- Level 3 super. The God of War grows to gargantuan height, gets his Spartan armor and sword, and then can KO people over and over again. Eventually Kratos shrinks back down, but it didn't happen in my game until after he has solidified his victory.

I still think it's odd that normal punches and kicks don't deal damage and make it easier to eliminate opponents, but after getting some solid playtime, I see what SuperBot is driving at. The action might not be "edge of you seat" stuff in terms of a weary opponent on the verge of defeat, but the waiting for and execution of super-moves is a rewarding ballet all its own.